Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-27

a witness in his defense that Florence.
for the first time, feels a strong doubt
thrown upon the belief she has formed
OF his being monster of fickleneSS.
What is it [ can do for you?" asks
Dora, in some confusion. Of late she
has grown very shy of being alone with
either him or Florence.
You will tell Miss Delmaine." replies
Adrian quickly, that / never wrote
you letter, and that [ certainly did
nOt-you will forgive my even mention
ing this extraordinary supposition, [
hope, Mrs. Talbot-kiss your hand one
day in September in the lime-Walk."
Dora turns first hot and then cold,
first crimson and then deadly pale. So
it is all out now, and she IS on her
trial. She feels like the verieSt crimi-
nal brought to the bar Of justice. Shall
she promptly deny everything, or-No.
She has had enough of deceit and in
trigue. Whatever it costs her. she will
now be brave and true, and confess all.
Il do tell her So" she says, in low
tone, but yet firmly. Il never received
letter from you, and you never kissed
my hand"
"DOral" cries Florence. What are
you saying! Have you forgotten all
that is past?"
Spare me-" entreats Dora hOarsely.
"In an hour, if you will come to my
room, l will explain all, and you can
then spurn me, and put me outside the
pale Of your. friendship it you will, and
as [ well deserve. But, for the pres
ent, accept my assurance that no love
passages ever occurred between me and
Sir Adrian, and that [ am fully per-
suaded his heart has been given to you
alone ever since your first meeting"
Florence, you believe herw Ques-
tions Sir Adrian beseechingly. at is
all true what she has said. | love you
devotedly. If you will not marry me,
no other woman shall ever be my wife.
My beloved, take pity on me!'
Trust IN him, give yourself freely to
him without fear urges Dora, with a
sob. "He is altogether worthy of you.
So saying, she escapes from the room,
and goes up the stairs to her own
apartment weeping bitterly.
Adrian of Florence when they are
again alone. Darling, answer me, do
yOu-can you love me?"
I have loved you always always,
replies Florence in a broken voice.
"But / thought feared-oh, how
much [ have suffered"
Never mind that now" rejoins Sir
Adrian very tenderly. He has placed
his arm round her. and her head is
resting in happy contentment upon his
breast. For the future, my dearest.
you shall know neither fear nor suffer
ing if can prevent it,"
x
They are still murmuring tender
words Of love to each other, though q
good half hour has gone by, when q
noise as Of coming footsteps in the con.
servatOry attracts their attention, and
presently Captain RingWood, with his
arm round Ethel Villiers'S waist, comes
slowly into view.
Totally unaware that any one is in
the room besides themselves, they ad.
vance, until, happening to lift theiI
eyes, they suddenly become aware that
their host and Miss Delmaine are re
garding them with mingled glances Of
surprise and amusement. Instantly
they start aSunder
1t lS-that iS-yOu See-Ethel, you
explain" stammerS Captain RingW0od
cOnfusedly.
At this both Sir Adrian and Florence
burst out laughing SO merrily and SC
heartily that all cOnstraint comes tC
an end and, finally Ethel and Ring.
wood, joining in the merriment that
has been raised at their expense, vol
unteer full explanation.
Il think" says Ethel, after awhile,
looking keenly at Florence and her
host, you two look just as guilty as We
do. Don't they, George?"
''They seem very nearly as happy, at
all events" agrees RingWood, who,
ho4 10 hoc ~ III
ing, been just accepted by Ethel
again in his usual gay spirits.
Nearly? you might say quite" says
Sir Adrian laughing. Florence as we
have discovered their secret, l think it
will be only honest of us to tell them
ours"
Florence bushes and glances rather
shZlY at Ethel. - =,
I know it." cries that young lady,
clapping her hands. you are going to
marry Sir Adrian, Florence, and he IL
going to marry you'll"
At this they all laugh.
well, one Of those surmises could
hardly come off without the other" OBJ
serves RingWOod, with a smile. $50
your second guess was a pretty safe
one. If she is right, old man"-turn-
both with all my heart"
Eyes, she is quite right" responds
Sir Adrian, directing a glance full of
ardent love upon Florence. What
should [ do with the life she restored to
me unless [ devoted it to her servicep
you see, he is marrying me only out
of gratitude" says Florence, smiling
archly, but large tears of JOY and glad
ness sparkle in her lovely eyes.
CHAPTER XIII.
When Florence finds her way, at the
expiration of the hour, to Dora's room,
she discovers that fair little widow dis
solved in tears, and indeed sorely per-